Greetings to the forum:
I am an 18 year old electronics hobbyist and fire alarms have always been part of my interest in electrical and electronics systems. My main hobby has always centered around the preservation and restoration of antique radios, television sets, and other vacuum tube based equipment such as test gear. I have a small shop area set up with all my test equipment, such as a few tube testers, an oscilloscope (Tektronix 466), Heathkit audio generator/oscillator, high voltage DC power supply, RF signal generator, multimeters, volt meters, capacitor leakage tester and capacitance analyzer, etc., and things like that. I have an extensive electrical background ranging from automotive ignition systems to residential electrical and low voltage systems. I also have the knowledge of many things such as all sorts of old equipment, industrial electric and power distribution, how various types of radio receivers work, electric motors, fire alarm panels, and things like that. As a side interest, I also like antique telephones such as ones made by Western Electric and the oldest piece in my collection of electrical devices is a 1903 magneto wall phone, aside from my 1920’s model T ignition coil and 1920’s or 30’s Leeds and Northrup potentiometer/galvanometer. I also enjoy welding, metalworking, woodworking, and farming and things like that.
I consider myself a very outgoing and kind guy, and I always do my best to do anything I can to be there for people and things like that.
Anyways, enough about that and onto fire alarms. Fire alarms have always been something I’ve been interested in as it connects to low voltage systems and it’s just simple for me to understand. I’ve wanted to get a lot more into them but never had the access to getting Simplex devices or a panel or anything like that really due to my parents not having much money to spend on that stuff and the fact that I’ve been unable to get a job yet due to not having a vehicle (one car household), but hopefully I will get one soon. I currently have a FireLite MS9200 panel set up with a small system I put together that I was able to afford off of eBay for a great price. It’s in good shape but needs a new LCD display and a new piezo.
I’ve always loved Simplex equipment, right down to the history of the company starting out making time recorders and time clock systems before buying out IBM’s fire division. I have knowledge on pretty much all of their equipment, down to the really old 4208 relay controlled panels up to their current panels and products. I’ve been trying to have a little collection of their equipment in addition to making a Simplex system. I actually am going to be getting a Simplex 4001 panel in really nice condition along with some pull stations, smoke detectors, and devices from someone I know in a week or so. It’s more rare I think in that it has the black and white door with red lettering for the “disconnect power before servicing” label. I am also going to be getting a Simplex 4005 panel that was pulled from a building. The tech offered to send it to me which was very generous of him as I’ve always wanted a 4005 or 4004. I’m eventually looking to also acquire a 4004 if I can find one. I may or may not need someone’s help here in the coming weeks with the level 4 code for the 4005 depending on if it was changed or not. We both don’t know that and I won’t know until I receive it.
If all goes well, I will probably swap out the MS9200 for the 4005 as I prefer Simplex myself. I will be making a mini demo system out of the 4001 or may make it into a bigger system yet, time will tell. I am happy to be saving these panels and some devices as they are part of Simplex’s history. I am still looking to acquire devices in the future.
I plan to hopefully get my foot in the door somewhere in the next few months or at least not until things start reopening. I would like to work for JCI/Simplex starting out as an inspector or helper or whatnot. I feel like I’d have a pretty good lead given my electronics knowledge and electrical theory. Depending on where things go, I hope to eventually become a tech in the fire alarm industry and get my NICET certifications. My other options I’ve considered is going to a trade school to become an electrician or low voltage electrician or become a welder. My other is to join a local union (I know a few people who came in from the IBEW to talk to our senior vocational automotive class (which I’m a part of) before things closed down including a younger member who graduated a few years before and they were both VERY impressed by me and my knowledge and said that I knew more about power distribution theory than the guys they worked with) which I found to be a kind and rewarding thing to say.
My apologies for the lengthy introductory post, but I figured I would do a proper introduction. I hope everyone on the forum has a stress free and enjoyable day and thank you to everyone on the forum who help to keep it the nice place that it is, as well as the users who keep the hobby alive and the arc lit.
~SimplySimplex
